Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

Jane

T he cargo bay was dark and quiet, aside from the hum of the ship's engines and the turbines moving the air throughout the huge space. I found a quiet place to sit and even some rations in the emergency compartment located on two of the walls. I wondered how long this trip would be. There were no windows to see outside, but I imagined that if our destination was far away, we would go through a sublight channel where the length of journeys became a fraction of what they would be if traveling by normal speeds.

By now, Siroc would have read my letter. He would know everything and understand why I left Mitra. Why I left him .

My chest ached just thinking of him. I doubted I would ever again love anyone the way I loved him. But, if I had been such a fool as to marry a man as awful as Alexander, perhaps it was best if I stayed away from relationships in the future. That was the only way I could look at it. The other way—that I'd found, and just as quickly lost, the true love of my life—was too awful to think about.

The last time Siroc and I had been together, in an exam room in the infirmary of all places, had been the sweetest and most bitter moments of my life. I knew I was leaving. Maybe it had been selfish of me to want one last time with him, to remember how good we were together. To savor the feelings I'd never have again.

I resettled myself where I sat on the floor and tried to force my mind to look forward. The further I was away from Mitra, the further I was from the one controlling my implants. Was it Elnok, the seer? Siroc had indicated that it could be him, but we hadn't had time to discuss it.

I lifted my head as the sound of the ship changed. The vibration of the engines reduced, as if we were stopping. The gravity mechanism fluctuated slightly before going back on. That was strange. I stood up, wondering if that meant we were nearing our destination or something else was going on. Maybe they found out I was here.

Siku .

There was that voice again.

"No." I flattened my hand against the metal behind me. "Leave me alone."

For the final time, Siku. Rise and do my bidding .

I closed my eyes and pushed back, even as I was swallowed up, consumed by a force possessing far greater power than me. Jane was gone.

Only Siku remained.